Authors: Laura Hawks
Before long his steady pace caused them both to climax simultaneously. Using his elbows, he hovered over her so he could continue to kiss her. He only needed scant minutes to regroup and begin again. When he was ready, he sat up slightly, slipping out of her so he could flip her around to have her lay face down on the mattress. Wrapping his arms around her belly, he lifted her bottom up so he could drive in her again. He was going to remind his wife repeatedly why he loved and needed her, as well as make up for some lost time over the past few years.
Chapter 12
Shara and Clarissa checked the room one final time. Everything had to be perfect. White roses had been brought in and strewn about the rooms with tons of red and white tulle and big red bows. Chairs were placed accordingly about two main rooms. Candelabras and white candles sat atop red-clothed tables, which were adorned with gold plates and sparkling crystal glasses. It looked like a storybook enchanted area, just as it should for such an auspicious day.
Zen strutted into the room and growled, “Why the fuck am I doing this again?”
Mel followed just steps behind him. “Because you love her and we always do what makes our women happy.”
Zenthus growled again as Mel just laughed at him. Azamel looked at the two women in the room and grinned. “Cold feet.”
Clarissa wandered over to the two of them, leaving Shara to do the rest of the final check through. Reaching up, she fixed Zen’s bow tie. “Don’t worry, Zen. One moment of embarrassment here in front of everyone equals a lifetime of sex and happiness with Santanya. Trust me; in the long run, it’s very worth it.”
“Better be. All this fuss is something I would prefer not to go through. I like being Mel’s strong arm. Not in the forefront of the light, wearing a monkey suit just because she wants to do the human ceremony thing.”
“Demon way is not always the best.”
“It would have been fine if she hadn’t seen the ritual you did with Mel,” he grumbled.
“I’d apologize, but I’m not really sorry.” Clarissa chuckled softly.
Clarissa looked at Mel, a questioning look on her face. Mel gave his head a quick negative shake and she responded with a stern
get it done
now
look. Azamel rolled his eyes.
When did he get to be the whipped male to his female? Well, granted only in some cases, and this was one of them, but he was still surprised by it none the less. Maybe he should never have told her about his best friend and how Zenthus was orphaned because of Destruction. He didn’t feel Zen needed to know all of this, but he did have something left of Boralium’s, which he had been holding on to for centuries. Now was the time to make sure it was passed to Boralium’s son and the truth finally be told. Clarissa pointed out to Azamel Zenthus was about to begin a new life with Santanya, to start a future with the woman he loves. It would only be fair if he understood his past before he began a new future. Mel still wasn’t sure about this, but he did want Zenthus to have what was rightfully his.
“Since you have a couple of minutes, Zenthus, why don’t you come to my office? There is something I wish to discuss with you.” Without waiting for a response, Mel left the decorated ballroom and headed down the corridor to his office.
Zen appeared perplexed and slightly worried. Clarissa put her hand on his arm and smiled. “It’s okay. He has something for you which I think you will be interested in. At least, it’s something you need to have.”
Somehow, those words did not make him feel much better. He looked over at Shara who was too busy finishing up the final touches before the ceremony. Nodding, he headed to Mel’s office as Clarissa watched him depart. She hoped it was the right thing to do. When Mel told her about Boralium and Zenthus, she wanted him to come clean immediately. He refused, not wanting to upset Zenthus. Who wanted to find out their father tried to kill the man who raised him because Destruction killed his mother and, in self-defense, his father? Mel didn’t wish to burden Zenthus with such news. The male was his chief bailiff, his top guard and, in Mel’s world, about the closest thing to a confidant and son, before he met Rissa. Zen enjoyed his position. Azamel didn’t wish to ruin the man’s perspective on his life, but Clarissa had been in a similar circumstance years ago. She knew the importance of fully knowing one’s past. Better to be forewarned than surprised when it could actually do some damage.
Zenthus knocked on Mel’s office door even though it stood open as Mel waited for Zenthus to arrive.
“Come in and shut the door behind you, Zen. Care for a drink? It will help calm those wedding jitters you seem to be having.” He held up the decanter with amber liquid.
“Yes. I think I could use a double right now.” Zen closed the door and walked over to grab the drink. “Were you this anxious when you got married?”
Azamel thought about it for a moment then smiled. “Actually, no. I wasn’t. I knew Clarissa was the one for me. She had proved herself over and over again. I also remembered what I was like without her. When I was told we couldn’t be together, it was the hardest thing I had lived through, so knowing she would be mine for eternity, I knew it was the perfect thing. The right thing.” Taking a sip from his own glass, he peered at Zenthus. “If she is what makes your heart flutter with the thought of her near, if she is what you think about every spare moment of every day you are not together, if she is what you need to make you feel whole, then there is no reason to be so nervous. You are two pieces of a puzzle fitting together. It means you belong together. Nothing should tear you two apart. You are making your claim on her in front of witnesses so there will never be any misunderstanding of her being yours.”
Zenthus downed the drink in two gulps and placed the glass down. “You’re right. She is what I want, and having an eternity to be with her is all I could ever hope for.”
Azamel moved over to his desk after setting his glass back on the minibar. He scooped up a beautifully wrapped elongated package and handed it to Zenthus.
“This was your father’s. I know I should have given it to you sooner, but the time just never seemed right.”
Zenthus’ eyebrow went up in surprise. He took the box in his hands and sat on the nearest chair with it in his lap. “How did you get it? What is it?”
Mel chuckled softly. “Open it and find out. As for how I got it, well, as you know, your father was once a very dear friend of mine. However, you should know the truth about something. About him. About us.”
Zen didn’t stop watching him. He couldn’t recall ever seeing Mel so anxious. It concerned him about what Mel had to tell him. He wondered why it mattered now, after centuries of not saying anything before.
As if Mel read his thoughts, he answered, “I never knew how to tell you. Was never sure you really needed to know. Your father should have only been in your thoughts as a good man, one who loved you and one who would do right by you. Truth is, he was all of that. He was my best friend and helped me when no one else would or cared to.”
Zen was aware of all of this, so far nothing new or revealing, so he waited.
Mel unbuttoned his suit jacket and sat behind his desk
“Rissa is an amazing woman. She sees things most never do. She believes you should know the truth of your father despite my reluctance to have you think of him in any other way but as a good man. She feels to know oneself, one should know their ancestry, to know where they come from and in some cases why. Boralium had a heart for love, but he never shared it. Not even with me. It was a time when Destruction had recently taken up residence within. I had not gotten him under control to keep him locked away. There was this village near ours. I went there to seek food, hoping I would not be recognized there for who I was or what I had become. When I got to the area, I tried to barter for food. A group of men recognized me as the cursed one and attacked. Destruction emerged forth. I couldn’t stop him. I wasn’t able to contain him yet. He destroyed a good number of the village; the men and, sadly, some of the innocents were caught in his wake of savageness. Among them, Zen, was your mother.”
Zen’s eyes darkened and he lowered his eyes to the gift on his lap. He didn’t say anything. He knew there was more and he was digesting what he heard thus far.
Azamel paused for a few moments before he continued. “I didn’t know anything about her. When Destruction returned and I saw what was left of the village, I was in despair. I did what I could to make up for the damage which was done. I only wanted to trade for food. Boralium, your father, learned what happened. He didn’t understand I didn’t intend harm to come to anyone. He didn’t comprehend I couldn’t control the demon yet, or that its emergence was to protect me, as the host, from being killed. Next thing I knew, I was being attacked by him. I didn’t blame him. I killed a woman he was in love with yet didn’t know anything about. I killed innocents and I was not only ashamed, but also despondent. I could not stop Destruction so others would not be caught in the whirlwind of his vengeance. Boralium attacked me. He wanted to end my existence, and I would willingly have given it to him, but Destruction would not accept the loss of his host and returned the assault. By the time I came to, all the damage had been done.”
Mel nodded towards the box on Zen’s lap. “It belonged to your father. He used it on me and was one of the last things in his possession. I’ve held on to it to remind me I was always going to be alone in this world with no one to trust. Until Rissa changed all that. Now you have found your woman to guide you and stand by your side. She has proven as much over the last couple of decades.” He rubbed his hands on his thighs then clasped them on the desk. “I am giving you both your freedom to go and do as you please. I promised Mani his mother would be safe, but I think you will do well to protect her as any other, if not more so.”
Zen was unsure what to say. There was a lot to process here. He opened the gift to see a double crossbow. Carved into the wood was his father’s mark. His mark. It was a piece of his past, a part of his history, even if he had been fully unaware of it until now. So many little things slipped into place with Mel’s revelation, items during the centuries which perplexed him as he rose through the ranks. He seemed to have Azamel’s guidance more than any other. Little luxuries afforded to him and no one else now made more sense.
Lifting the crossbow out of the box, he examined it closely then returned it to the container and stood.
“Thank you for the truth and for this. I will discuss with Santanya on where she would like to go, if she doesn’t wish to remain here. Regardless, I would like to remain your bailiff. What you do here, to protect the humans, is a righteous cause. I feel there is nothing more worthy of my attendance.”
“You will have a position here as long as you want, Zenthus. As well as my protection. I just wanted you to understand and be aware you have options. Whether or not you choose to take them is your decision. That and your soon to be wife. Speaking of which, it’s time to start welcoming your guests.”
Chapter 13
The attendees started to gather. Shara greeted them in the reception hall. They were then led by various ushers, Mel’s guards, to the ballroom where aisles of seats were strewn purposefully about. The room was filling up but there were a couple of people they were still waiting for.
Dzhihibai Manido appeared in the waiting room, almost out of breath. It had been a long while since she had seen the male. He rarely visited, in order to keep his mother safe. Hell, he suffered to keep her safe, he was not about to blow it now. However, he was worried such a congregation of folks would put her in danger once again. It was a small affair, for the most part, but even still, there were those he just wasn’t sure about.
Azamel had taken every precaution he could, including limiting the invite list. He purposefully kept his brother, Jes’Sakkid, off of it, since Jes was the one who threatened Santanya to begin with in order to get Mani to do his bidding. Jes had also once owned Mani’s soul, which he used to force the demon spirit to comply with his demands. Mani’s soul was later recovered by Nana and Azamel after Jes lost the epic battle of gods when he tried to overthrow Nana and assume control of the Elders Council.
Nana felt Mani paid enough of a price for his involvement in the affair, and, with his mother protected in the Nether Realm under Azamel’s watch, Nana returned Mani’s soul to its proper home, under the condition he couldn’t sell it again. Of course, Mani agreed. He may be gullible when desperate, but he was not a stupid fool.
At first, Shara was worried she wouldn’t remember what he looked like, but as soon as he entered the reception area she knew who he was. She had thought the tall demon had been handsome in his own right, though now he was sporting a scar along his left cheek and wondered how he came by it. Oh, he wouldn’t be the one to make every girl turn her head the first time, but there was an underlying strength of purpose to him which attracted Shara and made her notice him the few previous instances. Not that it mattered. She was an assistant to the demon judge, invisible to most unless they needed her to fetch something. Truth was, she wasn’t always his assistant. She was a demon herself and she probably would have perished if not for Azamel happening upon her. She owed Mel much, swore to be faithful to him in her service, and for eons she did just that.